Homosexuality in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Homosexuality in China - Research Paper Example As a result, there is a possibility that the number of such relationships may be increasing in the country. In recognition of this fact, this paper will examine the issue of homosexuality in China. This will be done with a close reference to the short story "The Bridegroom" by Ha Jin. The story is about a strange marriage between Beina and Baowen Huang who unexpectedly proposes to her to the shock of everyone who did not expect such a handsome young man would think of marrying her despite her â€Å"stocky and stout† figure as her guardian and the narrator describes (p 472). However, as months go by in their marriage, there are no signs of her having a child. It is only after eight months that Beina’s guardian discovers that her daughter married a man with homosexual orientations without feelings for women. It is also surprising that her daughter was seemingly comfortable with this situation. From this story, we are able to discover that homosexuality was an ancient practice in China but because of various issues, the men and women involved did not come out openly with it. One of the major challenges that the gay society faced in the story by Jin is that of a legal perspective towards their sexual orientation as will be discussed below. The legal environment was not favorable for the survival of the homosexuals. It is even to the surprise of the family members of Beina when it is discovered that Baowen and his â€Å"Buddies† were meeting at night in a club (Jin 474). The fear by the men or members of the gay community in the country to come out in the open was founded on the fact that they knew that their practice had legal implications. As a matter of fact, when the inspector of police in the story breaks the news of arrest to the families of the men in the story, he talks of sentencing the men â€Å"from six months to five years...†